The Weimaraner originated in Germany and was bred to hunt down foxes, birds, boar, rabbits, deer, fowl and even bears! They are also used as retrievers on land and on water making them a versatile, useful hunting partner. They are thought to be a mixture of Pointers, Braken’s (a type of German Hound), and Mastiff’s.

This breed has a lean, toned body and muscular straight legs. They have a long muzzle, large circular eyes and floppy, triangular ears. The Weimaraner has a unique coat colouring which is a gray-ish blue as well as a matching nose and nails. Naturally their tail is long and slender, but for showing purposes it will be docked.

The Weimaraner is a responsive, outgoing, and energetic breed that will need a large amount of exercise daily to keep them mentally and physically healthy. These dogs will become very rowdy and hyperactive indoors if they do not get taken out at least twice per day. They are an affectionate breed that are loyal to their masters but are not recommended for people that want a low key pet.

Breed Group

Sporting

Size

Males: 24-27 inches high

Females: 22-25 inches high

Weight

Males: 55-70 lbs
Females: 50-65 lbs

Color(s)

The Weimaraner will only come in one coat colour which is the steel blue-ish gray. There are to be no spotting or markings on the dog and consistency in colour is a must. The eyes may be gray, yellow or blue and the nose must correspond with the shade of gray the coat comes in.

Coat

This breed has a short, sleek coat that will need very minimal grooming. Weimaraner’s also come in a rare long haired version that will have fur about 1-2 inches in length but most commonly seen is the smooth coated variety.

Life Expectancy

About 10-12 years.

Personality

The Weimaraner will be a hard worker as well as a great family pet if owned by the correct person. These dogs are definitely not for the first time owner because they can be remarkably stubborn and will need firm, repetitive obedience training by someone who has knowledge of this subject. They will also need large amounts of exercise and affection for them to flourish into happy, loving dogs. The Weimaraner will interact well with other dogs and children but should not be around small family pets such as cats, hamsters, rats etc. because they have a high prey drive and will chase or hunt them when nobody is looking.

These dogs are incredibly energetic and thrive on their owners love and affection! They are not the type to be left alone too often because they will become depressed, bored and even neurotic. Training of a Weimaraner should start as soon as the dog is brought home to enforce the house/family rules and these should be kept strict so the dog understands what is allowed and what is not.

Care

The Weimaraner will need very minimal grooming to upkeep their coat. Brushing once every 2 weeks and bathing every 2 months will be perfect! They are prone to hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, hypertrophic osteodystrophy and bloat. Progressive Retinal Atrophy and distichiasis may also be genetic ailments this breed may inherit.

Training

These dogs will need an experienced, patient owner to teach them any sort of obedience, agility, or hunting training. They are clever dogs but will be stubborn and uninterested in training at times, so short lessons done multiple times per day is suggested so they do not get overwhelmed with all the new information. Weimaraner’s need to be taught using very gentle methods or they will become discouraged and unmotivated.

Activity

Weimaraner’s will need at least 1-2 hours of exercise per day to tire them out! Running at an off-leash park, swimming or climbing on a hike will be perfect to burn off their energy. Without proper physical activity, these dogs will become neurotic and even destructive of their owners home, so exercise daily is a must. This breed will do well living in an apartment as long as they are taken out every day, and a backyard is not needed but access to one would be a bonus.

The German Wirehaired Pointer originated in Germany and was bred to work alongside their hunting master and find or “point” out the game after it was shot. This breed is thought to be a mixture of the Bloodhound, Wirehaired Griffon, Foxhound and Poodle mixes, giving them their excellent hunting skills as well as their fantastic agile and speedy gait.

This breed has a muscular body, strong, toned legs and triangular, floppy ears which give them an innocent look. The GWP (German Wirehaired Pointer) has a long, powerful muzzle and large circular eyes. Naturally their tail is long, but for showing purposes will be docked. Their fur is the most valuable asset to them because this will not only protect them from the bitter cold, but also from rougher terrains where they must retrieve their owner’s game.

The German Wirehaired Pointer is energetic, responsive and very devoted to their families. They will make a great family pet because they interact well with children and will get along with smaller animals in the household. This breed will need a large amount of exercise to remain calm, so if this is not done they might become destructive.

Breed Group

Sporting

Size

Males: 24-26 inches high

Females: 22-24 inches high

Weight

Males: 60-70 lbs
Females: 60-70 lbs

Color(s)

This breed will come in one colour variation which is the white & liver. They can have many different markings, spottings or patches as long as the colour stays the same.

Coat

The German Wirehaired Pointer has a hard, dense, double layered coat. The top layer is wire-like and straight and the under layer is thickly insulated. It is very important for their fur to meet the standards of any show ring because if not, they will be disqualified no matter how beautiful the dog. The length is to be about an inch long and should have a messy look to it.

Life Expectancy

About 12-14 years.

Personality

The German Wirehaired Pointer is a cheerful, outgoing breed that will need to be socialized as puppies, especially around other dogs and people to ensure they will be comfortable in varying situations as adults. They are affectionate with family and friends but will be weary around people they’ve never met. This will quickly pass once they have been introduced to the new person and a new friendship will have been created!

These dogs have a strong personality and will need an owner who possesses that type of energy. Large amounts of exercise as well as quality time spent with this breed is definitely needed or they will become lonely and depressed dogs.

Care

The German Wirehaired Pointer will need a moderate amount of grooming to upkeep their coat. Brushing 3-4 times per week and bathing when the owner finds it necessary will be perfect! These dogs might be prone to skin ailments (allergies and cancers), hip dysplasia, and eye infections. Generally this is a healthy breed which doesn’t inherit many genetic diseases.

Training

This breed will need an owner who has experience in training or has some knowledge in that field as they can be very stubborn dogs. Short training sessions will be needed and firm consistency will be the only way this breed will learn. If obedience is taught in an enjoyable or fun manner, it is much more likely these dogs will pick it up quickly because they won’t see it as a chore, but more of a treat to learn the commands!

Activity

This breed will need at least 1-2 hours of exercise per day to tire them out! Trips to an off-leash park where they can run or chase after a ball will be essential to burn off their energy. These dogs will need a household to roam around in because they are large dogs that cannot live in the space of an apartment. A backyard would be needed so they can have an outdoor area at home to run in.

The German Shorthaired Pointer comes from the old Spanish Pointer, which was brought to Germany in the early 1600’s.

However, it is impossible to know the exact origins of the German Shorthaired Pointer, the best candidates would be the Schweisshund, the Foxhound, other hounds and also the Italian Pointer.

Breed Group

Sporting

Size

Male: : 23-25  inches high

Female: 21-23 inches high

Weight

Male: 55-70 lbs

Female: 45-60 lbs

Color(s)

The German Shorthaired Pointer can come in combinations of liver and white ticked, liver patched and white ticked or liver roan.

Coat

The coat of the German Shorthaired Pointer is short, thick and tough. Hairs are softer, thinner and shorter on ears and head and are longer under the tail and on back of haunches.

Life Expectancy

About 12-15 years.

Personality

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a loyal and protective dog that loves to be with family members; it constantly needs to be near people and is very cheerful and friendly. Liking children, these dogs make excellent family pets if enough exercised.

If left alone for a long time, they might become bored and destructive. German Shorthaired Pointers are extremely energetic and need to have daily chances to spend their energy. Smart and willing to please, these dogs are quite easy to train.

Care

The German Shorthaired Pointer is generally a healthy breed, but some can be prone to epilepsy, hermaphrodism an lymphedema. Some other minor concerns are gastric torsion, entropion, VWD, pannus, OCD and CHD.

Very easy to take care of, the German Shorthaired Pointer needs to be brushed regularly and bathe only when necessary. The ears must be checked regularly and the coat must be dried after hunting.

Training

The German Shorthaired Pointer is quite easy to train, but tend to be stubborn, so it needs patient and firm training.

Activity

The German Shorthaired Pointer is an extremely energetic dog that will take as much exercise as you can give it. They need a lot of daily exercise or they might become destructive.

The Miniature Schnauzer originated in Germany and was bred to be a ratter in barns but is more commonly used as a companion breed. They are a mixture of the miniature poodle and the Standard Schnauzer, giving them the small size of a poodle and identical appearance of a Schnauzer. These little dogs are very popular due to their infectiously animated personality.

The Mini Schnauzer has a small compact body with frail legs and a prancing gait. They have a long rectangular muzzle and large circular eyes that have a curious expression to them. This breed has naturally floppy ears and a long tail but for show purposes these will be cropped and docked. The fur on their face gives them the appearance of a beard and mustache! They are identical to the Standard Schnauzer both in colour and body shape, but on a much smaller scale.

These little dogs are bright, happy, loving creatures that want to be with their owners at all times. They make good family pets because they like children and have the patience for them. Other dogs pose a problem for this breed because for the most part, they do not get along but if socialized extensively as puppies, this can be prevented. The Mini Schnauzer is a protective breed that will take on people, dogs or other animals if they seem to threaten their family or home.

Breed Group

Terrier

Size

Males: 12-14 inches high
Females: 12-14 inches high

Weight

Males: 10-15 lbs
Females: 10-15 lbs

Color(s)

The Mini Schnauzer comes in a silver, black, salt & pepper, or white. Most commonly seen is the salt & pepper colouring which is the light gray with black and white accents on their chest and legs.

Coat

This breed has a thick double layered coat that consists of a harsh and wiry top layer and a soft, plushy undercoat. This keeps them very warm when in colder temperatures but since these dogs are so small, they will get cold easily because they don’t have much body mass. The coat does not shed much fur so will be good for people that have allergies to dogs.

Life Expectancy

About  15 years.

Personality

The Mini Schnauzer is a playful, animated character that will make a great pet for families or people that would like an affectionate smaller dog. They would do better in a home with no other animals because they enjoy being the centre of attention and for the most part, do not get along very well with other pets. Protective and responsive, this breed wants to be the guardian of the house and will make a great watchdog as they have a loud shrill bark.

These dogs are extremely clever and will be quite easy to train provided the owner is consistent. They can pick up little tricks and will be quite charming while performing them to impress their masters. Miniature Schnauzers enjoy playing and will need a variety of toys to choose from because if they become bored, they will find things to chew on that might not necessarily be something their master will approve of.

Care

This breed will need a moderate amount of grooming as they have a shorter coat that will not need much maintenance. Brushing 3-4 times per week and bathing once every 2 months will be perfect for this dogs coat. Trims should be given 4 times per year to keep the length equal. These dogs are prone to skin allergies, cysts, eye problems, kidney stones and diabetes. In general they are healthy dogs but owners should check the blood lines of the parents to ensure what their puppy might be inheriting at a later date.

Training

The Miniature Schnauzer is a clever breed that will need gentle methods when training. Consistency and repetition are key but a positive manner is a must to encourage these dogs to want to learn. Lessons should be kept short and fun so the training will not feel like work. Mini Schnauzers will need a lot of socialization as puppies especially with other dogs; they can become dog aggressive if this is not done!

Activity

The Miniature Schnauzer will need to be taken out to an off-leash dog park or out for regular walks as they need a moderate amount of exercise to burn off their energy. During the day these dogs play so after work they will not need too much exercise to tire them out. This breed is perfect for apartments because of their size and will not need a back yard but access to one will be a bonus.

The Standard Schnauzer is the oldest of the three Schnauzer breeds.
It originally came from Germany.

The word Schnauze itself comes from the German word muzzle.
These brave dogs were used as messengers in World War I, as vermin hunters, as well guard dogs.
It is now more commonly trained a herder and retriever.

Breed Group

Working

Size

Male: 18½ to 19½ inches
Female: 17½ inches to 18½ inches

Weight

Male: 30-45 lbs
Female: 30-40 lbs

Color(s)

The Standard Schnauzer is pure black or salt and pepper.

Coat

The coat is tight, hard, strong and wiry.
The outer coat is trimmed to accentuate the body outline.
The undercoat is soft and dense.

Life Expectancy

13 to 15 years.

Personality

The Standard Schnauzer is fearless and protective, which makes it a great guard dog;
it defends its territory and its family using its deep barking.
It is very lively, intelligent and playful which results in a very affectionate pet for the family.

Care

The outer coat is easy to take care of, but the undercoat is very dense and needs to be brushed weekly.
The Standard Schnauzer should be professionally trimmed at least four times a year.

The eyes and the ears should be trimmed with a blunt-nosed scissor.
After meals, the whiskers should be washed.
This Schnauzer doesn’t smell and barely sheds during season because of the nature of it’s coat.

Training

The Standard Schnauzer is very intelligent and learns easily.
However it can be very stubborn and needs a firm training.
As puppies, socialization is an important aspect of the pet’s development.

Activity

The Standard Schnauzer is a very energetic dog that will take as much exercise as it can get.
Activities can range from a swim to intense play as long as they get at least an hour a day.

The Rottweiler is probably descended from the Italian Mastiff known for watching over the cattle the Roman legions needed for provisions.
In the middle ages, the Rottweiler breed was developed in the German town of Rottweil in Wurttemberg as a guard and herd dog.

Practically extinct in the 1800′s, he made a wonderful comeback in the early twentieth century due to the efforts of breeders in Stuttgart.
The Rottweiler is a medium to large dog with a massive and powerful body, naturally protective and devoted to their owner and family.

Breed Group

Working

Size

22 – 27 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

80 – 130 lbs.

Color(s)

The Rottweiler coat is black with clearly defined tan markings that range from rust to mahogany on the cheeks, muzzle, chest, legs, and over both eyes.

Coat

The Rottweiler outer coat is straight, coarse, dense, mid-length and flat while the undercoat is soft and thighs.

Life Expectancy

About 10 – 12 years.

Personality

A well train Rottweiler can do extremely well in a family environment, however he is very territorial and protective and can be intimidating at times.
He can be aggressive with other dogs, cats, household pets and with people he doesn’t know, so, early socialization and training is absolutely essential for this breed.

The Rottweiler has a working dog need to be stimulated and a job to do to be happy, whether it is fetching a ball, hauling a cart, guarding something or retrieving the newspaper.
The Rotties thrives with affection and attention from its family but he tends to be a one person dog.

Care

This Rottweiler is susceptible to ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament), bloat, progressive spinal cord disorder, entropionRottweiler from working dog group and hip dysplasia.
Also they are sensitive to Parvo virus.
The Rottweiler requires minimal grooming, brush with a firm bristle brush and bathes only when necessary (Bathing too often will remove the natural oils from the coat).
The Rottweiler is a medium shedder.

Training

Quick to learn and eager to please the Rottie is an outstanding guard dog with a self assured and fearless temperament.
The Rottweiler requires a firm and careful training and an experienced owner who can handle this powerful breed.
They have proven their worth in police/military work, competitive obedience, schutzhund and do well in a variety of things such as tracking, herding, watchdogging and carting.

Activity

The Rottweiler will do okay in an apartment life if it is sufficiently exercised.
They aren’t really active indoors, so they need up to three long walks daily, they also loves swimming and running freely in the woods (only if a free from public place can be identified).

Back to 36 B.C., the image of a dog similar to the Great Dane appeared on Greek money. The Great Dane is considered as the “Apollo of dogs”. In 407 A.D., Asiatic people (the Alans) invaded part of Italy and Spain and German Gaul. The Alans brought big mastiff dogs (especially in Germany) with them.

These giant dogs were able of overcoming bears and other wild beasts. They were admired for this reason and that’s when the breeding begun. These dogs were crossed with Irish Greyhounds and the result of this cross is the Great Dane that we have today.

Breed Group

Working

Size

Male: no less than 30 inches, but preferably more than 32 inches
Female: no less than 28 inches, but preferably more than 30 inches

Weight

Male: 120-200 lbs
Female: 100-130 lbs

Color(s)

The Great Dane has a high variety of colors:

Brindle Danes: The base color of this Dane is light to golden yellow and has black stripes.

Fawn Danes: Golden yellow with a black mask.

Blue Danes: The entire Great Dane is blue without any other color.

Black Danes: Glossy black, no other colors.

Harlequin Danes: The base color of this Dane is white. It has black, irregular patches all over the body. A pure white neck is preferable. The patches should never be too large.

Boston Danes: The first color of this Dane is black. The muzzle, the chest and part of the legs are white. The presence of an entire or partial white collar is preferable. The tail’s end is white. The dog has dark eyes and nose.

Coat

Its coat is very short and dense. It is also smooth and glossy.

Life Expectancy

About 10 years.

Personality

The Great Dane is extremely gentle. It is proud, kind and affectionate; it loves anybody and always wants to be around people. It is playful and sweet with children. However, some children might receive an accidental tail whip! It doesn’t bark much except when it’s required. It is responsible, courageous and loyal; effectively it is a good watchdog. If it is not used to be with other dogs, it can be aggressive with them, especially if they are of the same sex.

Care

This dog prone to hip dysplasia, to tumors, heart disease, bloats and tail injuries.

This breed is an average shedder. Grooming once in a while is sufficient. However, to avoid the major chore of bathing this dog, daily brushing is preferable. Nails should always be trimmed.

Training

For a better manageability of this giant dog, early obedience training should be taken. It has to be shown not to lean against people, especially children.

Activity

The Great Dane needs at least one long daily walk.

The Giant Schnauzer is also known as the Russian Bear Schnauzer, the Munich Schnauzer and the Riesenschnauzer. It comes from a cross between the Standard Schnauzer, Bouvier des Flandres and the Great Dane.

The Giant Schnauzer was first used to drive livestock in Bavaria, but later was used as a guard dog for the police and the military. The word Schnauze is German for muzzle.

Breed Group

Working

Size

Male: 26-28 inches
Female: 23-26 inches

Weight

Male: 60-80 pounds
Female: 55-75 pounds

Color(s)

The colors of the Giant Schnauzer can be solid black or salt and pepper.

Coat

The Giant Schnauzer’s coat is tight, strong, hard and rough. It is shorter on the ears, on the top of head, on the neck and under the tail. It is barely longer on the legs and under the chest. It has longer hairs under the muzzle and on the eyebrows. The undercoat is soft and dense.

Life Expectancy

About 12 – 15 years.

Personality

The Giant Schnauzer is an intelligent and alert dog. His calm behavior makes him good with children. Very protective, it is a good guard dog. It is courageous, loyal and responsible. Very attached to his owners; it always wants to be near them.

Care

The outer coat is easy to take care of, but the undercoat is very dense and needs to be brushed weekly. The Giant Schnauzer should be trimmed equally all over the body at least four times a year.

A blunt-nosed scissor should be used to trim around the eyes and around the ears. After the meals, the whiskers should be washed. It does not smell and it barely sheds. The Giant Schnauzer should have a bath at least two times a year.

Training

The Giant Schnauzer is very dominant, so it needs an experienced trainer that will be firm and able to show that he is the boss. It needs constant training, with positive attitude and rewards. They aren’t really good with kids; if they are not trained properly, they might bite them.

Activity

This dog is very energetic and will consequently require a lot of activity. If not exercised at least twice a day, it will be very difficult to manage, more so if it lives in an apartment.

The German Pinscher comes from a mix of the Miniature Pinscher and the Schnauzer. That’s why, at the beginning, it had both smooth and wirehaired puppies. The German Pinscher was used as a vermin hunter, a family pet, a herder and a watchdog. The breed was officially recognized in 1879.

The Pinscher-Schnauzer Club was then founded in 1895 in Germany. Since this time, it was agreed that only the smooth coated ones would be bred. This was made by separating the wirehaired and the smooth haired puppies in the same litters.

After World War II, this breed was near extinction. Fortunately, a man named Karl Werner Junghof was able to find a few dogs left in Germany and began to breed them. The German Pinscher has been accepted by the American Kennel Club in 2001. The German Pinscher also played a role in the development of the Doberman.

Breed Group

Working

Size

Male and female: 17-20 inches

Weight

Male and female: 25-35 lbs

Color(s)

The German Pinscher can come in different colors. These colors are black, tan, yellow, fawn and dark brown. There are also bi-colored dogs that have red and tan markings.

Coat

The coat is very short and dense. It is smooth and shiny, close to the body.

Life Expectancy

About 12 – 14 years.

Personality

The German Pinscher is a courageous, loyal, protective and insensitive dog. It is also very territorial and possessive of his things like toys or bones. If there is a new visitor, it will be welcomed by a loud barking. Not a good breed for children, it will instinctively protect and bite before thinking.

If it gets in a fight with other dogs, it will not move away, so it’s important to keep it under control. However, they normally get along very well with other pets in the house. The German Pinscher is very lively and adapts easily to new situations. It has a great endurance and has been used as a guard dog and a watchdog, a herder, a vermin destroyer and as a family pet.

Care

The German Pinscher is an average shedder. It does not need a lot of grooming. An occasional brushing is enough.

Training

Because of their high intelligence and their independent nature it’s a must to do obedience training. They are very stubborn and bull headed so it’s important for them to know that they aren’t the boss. If they are well trained, they will thrive. The important thing to remember when you are training a German Pinscher is to have consistency. The owner needs to let the dog understand that it can’t growl at humans.

Activity

The German Pinscher needs a lot of exercise every day. It loves to run a lot, to play or to take a walk. They’ll enjoy running by your side, on your bicycle or on rollerblades.

It was in the 1870′s in Germany, that Louis Dobermann, a tax collector who needed an alert and intelligent bodyguard dog, bred the Doberman Pinscher, to protect him on his rounds from bandits.

It was developed presumably by crossing several different breeds of dogs, to find the characteristics that Dobermann was looking for.

This included German Pinschers, Rottweilers, Beauceron, Black Greyhounds, Black and Tan Terrier, Thuringian Shepherd Dog, Great Dane and the German Shepherd Dog to create the sleek and smart guard dog with a fearless nature.

The Doberman Pinscher is medium to large in size, compactly built, muscular and graceful this breed reflecting great nobility and temperament.